I looked around frantically. Decker caught my attention and shook his keys. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 39
Luca
Everything happened so fast that I was left dazed. One moment, I was unlocking the locker to retrieve what she needed. Next, I was crumpled on the floor, draped in darkness and debris. Breathing quickly became difficult. Every inhale brought a mouthful of dust.
Was this how my life would end?
The walls closed in as I tried to move. My eyes were scratchy. Every blink cut into my eyeball. My palms stung, like falling on gravel. With every shift, my ears buzzed with muffled silence. Tears filled my eyes as my heart broke. A sob tore through me, not for myself, but for Axel.
I was trapped.
I was going to die.
And I was going to leave him.
My palms were sticky. I could smell the iron of my blood. Was I bleeding somewhere else? I had to get out of here.
Tears streaked down my face as desperation to escape paralyzed me. Panic had set in, causing my body to throb with each elevated heartbeat. January temperatures couldn’t quell the sweat my panic generated. Every passing second choked alittle more life out of me. Suffocation seemed like a terrible way to die.
Stifled sobs finally broke free, but crying required oxygen that I didn’t have. All I wanted was to survive long enough to see Axel again.
To say goodbye.
To tell him how much I loved him. My heart ached for what could have been. I’d wasted so much time saying not yet, when what I wanted was right now.
As the falling bricks and twisting metal stopped groaning, I closed my eyes. Curled up in front of the locker, I used my thoughts of Axel to calm me. I pictured his face. My mind was muddled, and my head throbbed. All I wanted to think about was him.
Please God, don’t let me die like this. I need to see him again. One. More. Time.
A flicker illuminated the rubble. My lifeline shimmered in the dust. Axel’s name lit up the dark, calling me back to him.
Shifting, I stirred the debris as I reached for it. Swiping across the screen, I heard him. Strong and determined.
“Luca! Where are you?”
“Axel?” I cried, tears streaming down my face. Then the coughing.
“Baby, are you okay? I see your dot at Edith’s. Where are you?”
I coughed. “Basement. Building collapsed.” Every word threatened to choke me. I couldn’t breathe. I was about to die, but he was with me. I could do this with him.
“I love you. I’m sorry.”
“NO!” he roared. “I’m coming. I’m coming. Don’t hang up.” The determination in his voice made me cry.
“I love you,” I gritted out again. More sobs tore from me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”
“You’re going to be fine, love. Are you hurt?” he said into my ear.
“Can’t breathe well. Dusty.”
He yelled at Decker to drive faster and to call someone. When he came back to me, his voice was calmer. “Don’t talk. Just listen to me. I’m coming. I’m going to get you out if I have to dig it myself.”
I cried silent tears. “Love you.”
His voice cracked. “I love you too. And do not fucking leave me, Luca. Do you hear me?” He was sobbing. And it was killing me. “Hang on. Breathe through your shirt.”
